Introduction

The need for improved standardization and harmonization of
emergency relief and medical items provided by donors and major operational
players has been expressed over the years. The International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red
Cross supported by National Societies have coordinated their joint efforts
towards this objective.

The catalogue is intended to facilitate the selection and
acquisition of the suitable items notably during the first phase of an
emergency. Standardisation is intended to facilitate field operations and
logistics support, improve quality insurance, communication and reporting, and
also to avoid inappropriate donations. The catalogue provides generic technical
specifications for essential items.

The catalogue provides guidance and assistance to :

- Operational users and decision makers and also
donors and national authorities concerned with planning, budgeting and execution
of assistance programmes in emergency situations.

- Purchasers and suppliers involved with the supply of emergency
items.

This being the first edition of the catalogue, standardisation
and harmonisation has not been totally finalised. The second edition is planned
for 2003, with among other objectives a larger standardisation of the Emergency
Response Units (ERU) and kits.